San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham is being suspended for 2 games by the NBA after pleading guilty to impaired driving, in violation of North Carolina state law. The league made the announcement this Thursday. In a statement, they said that Graham’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular season game.
The incident occurred on July 7, 2022. Graham was pulled over at 2:39 a.m. for driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to the police report. During the traffic stop, officers noticed signs of impairment. This led to Graham’s arrest and subsequent transport to the Wake County Detention Center. Graham willingly underwent a breath test for alcohol. The test revealed a 0.11 BAC (breath alcohol concentration), which is above the state’s legal limit of .08.
As Devonte’ Graham serves his suspension, the San Antonio Spurs will need to regroup and figure out how to navigate this challenge. They have to make a statement in the upcoming NBA season after drafting Victor Wembanyama. Graham himself will need to reflect on his actions and learn from this experience. He needs to ensure a brighter and more responsible future for himself in the league.
His actions serve as a warning for other players and the broader NBA community. It reinforces the importance of making responsible decisions both on and off the court. The league’s strict stance on off-court behavior underscores the significance of maintaining professionalism and respecting the law.
Devonte’ Graham
Graham, who was traded to the Spurs last season from the New Orleans Pelicans, still has two years and $24.75 million remaining on a four-year contract he signed in 2021. The trade between New Orleans and San Antonio involved Graham and four second-round picks going to the Spurs. In exchange, the Pelicans got Josh Richardson at last season’s trade deadline.
During his time with the Pelicans, Graham played 53 games. He maintained averages of 5.3 points and 2.2 assists per game. However, after the trade to San Antonio, he found a more prominent role and performed better, raising his scoring average to 13.0 points over 20 games.
